Ireland extended their unbeaten record at the T20 World Cup qualifiers in Nepal with a 16-run victory over the USA.
After winning the toss and electing to bat first, Ireland captain Gaby Lewis hit 42 for the second match in a row as the Girls in Green made an impressive start.
Lewis and Amy Hunter reached 27 from the first 19 balls. However, two wickets in two balls rocked Ireland and Leah Paul joined her captain to stabilise the innings.
The pair put on 77 for the third wicket before Lewis feathered a ball through to the keeper, but Paul was determined to take up the mantle and hit her third T20I half-century from 40 balls.
The Ireland innings eventually finished on 154-7 from 20 overs, boosted by Rebecca Stokell and Arlene Kelly taking 14 off the last over.
The USA response started confidently as they powered their way to 42-1 in the fifth over. However, four wickets in the subsequent five overs stymied their charge to what would have been an upset win.
The chief threat for Ireland was Arlene Kelly with 4-20, while Aimee Maguire claimed 2-26 and Ava Canning 2-11.
A late 41 off 30 balls by Ritu Singh injected a brief concern for Lewis and her troops, but the target proved just elusive as Ireland prevailed.
Ireland, who saw off Papua New Guinea in Kathmandu on Sunday, return to action against Bangladesh on Saturday.
